SBY visits Tanah Abang market

JAKARTA: Four elderly women fainted as they stood in line to buy cheap welfare packages at a special cheap market, which was opened by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on his "Ramadhan safari" on Monday.

People packed the market, established outside a government office in Jakarta's Tanah Abang area, wanting to buy cheap welfare packages, consisting of rice, vegetable oil, instant noodles, biscuits as well as soaps and detergent.

The President, who was accompanied by Minister of Religious Affairs M. Maftuh Basyuni, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Alwi Shihab and Minister of Social Affairs Bachtiar Chamsyah, later went to a nearby mosque to break the fast with local people.

The President donated some Rp 100 million (about US$10,000) for an Islamic school, but he did not deliver speech. According to cleric Ahmad Mubarok, Susilo was suffering throat problems.

Susilo is slated to visit Banten, South Kalimantan, Southeast Sulawesi and West Nusa Tenggara during his "Ramadhan safari" this year. -- Antara